Common post-natal problems

Question 1

Plethora

Answer 1

polycythaema in baby making them look very red

Question 2

Milia

Answer 2

• white papules on tip of nose due to hyper plastic sebaceous glands
• will disappear by themselves

Question 3

Miliaria

Answer 3

• immature sweat gland obstruction
• crops of lesions over face, scalp and trunk
• miliaria crystallina- superficial vesicles, diameter 1-2mm. Skin not inflamed
• miliaria rubra- papules and pustules from obstruction in mid dermis ‘prickly heat’

Question 4

Erythema toxicum

Answer 4

• harmless red blotches often with central white pustule which come and go in crops
• very common in term babies
• rash fades by end of first week

Question 5

What kind of rashes may appear if there are skin infections in the baby?

Answer 5

pustular rashes

Question 6

What is a sebaceous naevus?

Answer 6

• Present at birth, it is most often found on the scalp, but sebaceous naevi may also arise on the face, neck or forehead. It consists of overgrown epidermis (upper layers of the skin), sebaceous glands, hair follicles, apocrine glands and connective
• sensitive to androgens and can become more wart like in puberty

Question 7

What is strawberry naevus?

Answer 7

• capillary haemangiomas
• cluster of dilated capillaries with 1st month
• can be on any part of the body
• usually regresses after 1 year of age

Question 8

What are mongolian blue spots?

Answer 8

• blue-grey pigmentations
• often on buttocks and lower back
• harmless

Question 9

Do port wine stains disappear? What can be done for them?

Answer 9

• no and are flat or slightly rises red areas

- cosmetic cover or pulsed dye laser

Question 10

What are stork marks?

Answer 10

see oxford handbook for further information